When Love Is a Lie

Each in the morning, Whimey was waiting the the elevator when she heard the sound of a door opening behind her.

Out of the corners of her eyes, she saw Noel approaching but chose not to greet him. As soon as the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside without a glance back

The murred walls reflected the hs of them, one standing in front of the other. The silence was almost suffocating, broken only by the sound of the elevator descending Feeling the tension, Whimey couldn’t hold back any longer,” man arks you over again, could you please refinebi

She really didn’t want to face the same we situation as hast time.

“Am I that en bewable Noel asked back.

“No, I just think or shouldn’t get too close. You know what I m

Nel towed over her by almost a hood and a halt. He good down at her through the mirror. “There’s only one way not to get close. Either you don’t marry into the Howard

amily or 1culties with them.”

In other words, she could only word him if she broke off her engagement or if Neleased to be part of the Howard family.

Whime bebeved there had to be other solutions. Noel was clearly making things difficult for her

She met his gaze in the mirror and said indignantly, “But you’re already estranged from the Howard family, aren’t you? That should make it easier. Just avoid me or stay away

whimey knew that ever since Noel and his parents had moved out of the Howard residence, they rarely went back. There was no need to go to such extremes.

smile. “You’re just unwilling

cot deep, pleating her heart

did their eight years together mean he kept betraying her? She felt like a fool, knowing her Hance

this all he did was judge and mock

her vulnerability to Noel Sheered, “Yes, you’re right, I’m just too attached to the title of Mrs. Howard.

bolledower, tristing painfully inside her. The years of suppression

see the car approaching

by a strong force. Then, she

you trying to get yourself killed? Noel scolded above her head.

arms were strong. He held her tightly with one hand while his other arm wrapped around

that wild night flashedthrough Whitney’s mind, and her face flushedbright red.

Noel released her. After a brief pause, he said coldly, “I’ll consider what

then turned and walked toward his black

stood there in a daze, watching him drive off. She didn’t move until his car had disappeared from sight and

sheld the parking lot, the Black Rolls–Rayre hidden in the conser finally drove

tension, the driver asked cautiously, “Mr. Howard,

replaying the

face, he had seen Noel’s expression all too clearly–ball of longing yet tempered

grew eerily calm. “Go to the

Whitney had just parked her car and was waiting for the

said with a grille smile, handing